Mark Rabago
RNZ Pacific CNMI correspondent
The Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands is experiencing a
methamphetamine crisis, the four local mayors of the US
territory have warned.
The mayors of Saipan, Rota,
Tinian and Aguiguan, and the Northern Islands say local
resources can no longer keep pace with the scale and
sophistication of methamphetamine trafficking.
Saipan
mayor Ramon “RB” Jose Blas Camacho, Rota mayor Aubry Hocog,
Tinian and Aguiguan mayor Edwin Aldan, and Northern Islands
Mayor Valentino Taisakan Jr have joined forces to request
the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to
send additional agents and personnel.
The CNMI’s local
law enforcement agency, the Department of Public Safety
(DPS), declined to weigh in on the mayors’
request.
DPS acting public information officer Simon
Manacop, speaking on behalf of DPS Commissioner Anthony
Macaranas, told Marianas Press: “He will not provide a
comment as the matter was not addressed to him nor was he
consulted about it.”
In a letter dated 10 August 2026,
addressed to DEA Director Terrence Cole, the mayors
described methamphetamine as an “urgent and escalating
threat” to the health, safety and stability of CNMI
communities and sought increased federal
assistance.
“Methamphetamine trafficking and abuse
have reached levels that our local enforcement and
community-support systems can no longer sustain alone,” the
they wrote.
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They said that despite the efforts of
local police, community organisations and government
agencies, the scale and sophistication of methamphetamine
distribution networks operating in the CNMI have “outpaced
our available manpower and resources”.
The mayors said
the consequences include rising addiction rates, increased
property and violent crime, strained social services and the
erosion of community well-being.
The mayors
specifically asked DEA to deploy additional agents,
analysts, and interdiction specialists who could work
directly with local law enforcement.
They said
additional federal personnel could strengthen intelligence
gathering and investigative capacity, support joint
operations targeting methamphetamine importation and
distribution, and enhance interdiction efforts at ports of
entry and along maritime routes.
They also called for
training and technical assistance for municipal and CNMI law
enforcement and expanded community-based prevention and
outreach
initiatives.
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